The Way of a Pilgrim and The Pilgrim Continues His Way [Paperback]

Helen Bacovcin (Translator), Walter J. Ciszek (Foreword)

Book Description

Release date: June 17, 1985

This enduring work of Russian spirituality has charmed countless people with its tale of a nineteenth-century peasant's quest for the secret of prayer. Readers follow this anonymous pilgrim as he treks over the Steppes in search of the answer to the one compelling question: How does one pray constantly? Through his journeys, and under the tutelage of a spiritual father, he becomes gradually more open to the promptings of God, and sees joy and plenty wherever he goes. Ultimately, he discovers the different meanings and methods of prayer as he travels to his ultimate destination, Jerusalem.

The Way of a Pilgrim is a humble story ripe for renewed appreciation today. The recent changes in Russia have revealed the great religious traditions of that land, and this work, freshly translated for modern times, is among the finest examples of those centuries-old traditions.

Editorial Reviews

Language Notes

Text: English (translation)
Original Language: Russian --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From the Publisher

This classic work of Russian spirituality has charmed countless readers with its tale of a nineteenth-century peasant seeking the truth with simple humility, finding joy and plenty everywhere in life.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 196 pages
• Publisher: Image Books; Reprint edition (June 17, 1985)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0385468148
• ISBN-13: 978-0385468145
• Product Dimensions: 5.6 x 0.6 x 8.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (61 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #23,408 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #89 in Books > Christian Books & Bibles > Worship & Devotion > Devotionals

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

107 of 109 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Insight into the Spiritual Beauty of Christ's Mercy November 14, 2000

By Cameron B. Clark VINE™ VOICE

Format:Paperback

As Morton Kelsey has stated in his book, The Other Side of Silence, "This little book puts the ideas of the Philokalia into the hands of the ordinary person, showing how they can be made part of our devotional practice while we go about life in the ordinary, secular world." The Jesus prayer is simple, but the intent is to discipline one's mind toward a constant awareness of God's presence as manifested through Christ's mercy. The prayer reinforces one's absolute dependence on God's grace and sensitizes one's soul to the Holy Spirit's leadings. One is reminded of that other classic of the spiritual life by Brother Lawrence, The Practice of the Presence of God. To pray without ceasing is possible, but one must internalize prayer to make it an automatic, perpetual attitude of submission, not just a few words on the lips. The anonymous pilgrim was successful because of his faith-filled determination to locate the scriptural key to unceasing prayer and open the spiritual lock through practice. He seeks until he finds, and what he finds is a treasure of joy unspeakable and full of glory and a peace which passes all understanding. My heart was with the pilgrim throughout his wanderings because his concern was mine and, if it's your concern as well, you too will find that treasure.

77 of 78 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A Classic November 19, 2002

By Margaret Dybala VINE™ VOICE

Format:Paperback

I first learned of this book when I read Salinger's "Franny & Zooey" back in high school (a long time ago!). In the "Franny" portion, you will recall that she repeats a prayer over and over, and consults a little book. At the time, I asked my lit teacher what the book was and was told it didn't exist .. it was just part of the story. Many, many years later, I heard about the Way of the Pilgrim, and putting 2 and 2 together, realized that this is what Salinger referred to. I then read Way of the Pilgrim, just to see the literary reference, and instead found a beautiful book that renewed my spiritual life. This is a simple story of a 19th century Russian wanderer, his attempts to follow St. Paul's admonition to pray without ceasing. This is a marvelous story. I recommend it without hesitation to any person who wants to grow spiritually.

52 of 52 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A story that will go right to your heart May 18, 2001

By A Customer

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

I first read this book eighteen years ago and the pilgrim's humble and simple story touched something in my heart. The book was so inspiring that it moved me to begin praying the Jesus Prayer, and the Prayer and the Pilgrim have been my companions in life ever since.

The story takes place in Russia in the nineteenth century. Our pilgrim is a man who has lost his family and his home, is slightly disabled, and who is burning with a passion for God. He hears a sermon on the necessity of constant prayer, and in his eagerness to find out how this is possible, sets out on a journey across Russia to meet with any spiritual advisor who can instruct him. One of these holy fathers introduces him to the Philokalia and the Prayer of the Heart. In passing along the instruction, however, the pilgrim is really teaching us, the readers. This book is filled with sound teaching, but, unlike other books on spirituality/theology, it does not tell us what to do, but rather lets the pilgrim, through narrative and dialogue, tell what he himself did. The instruction unfolds along with the story, touching the reader's heart and soul in the process.

If you read this and would like to pursue the Prayer of the Heart, you might also want to read another very simple book called "Living the Jesus Prayer," by Irma Zaleski. Those two books, plus the Gospel, will get you through your whole life and beyond, and it will be a journey of joy and peace, and a direct experience of Omnipresence.

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Life Changing June 30, 2000

By Jo Austin

Format:Paperback

10 years ago I picked up a copy of The Way of a Pilgrim quite by accident, not knowing what it was about, and it changed and deepened my spiritual direction. As a consequence, its influence has been life-changing. I continue to say the Jesus Prayer as a way of focusing myself on the Spirit of God within and blocking out all distractions. Simply written and easy to understand, this book doesn't require interpretation or great intellect in order to receive the full blessing poured out onto each page. It has a positive and lasting impact on its reader. It goes without saying that the Philokalia volumes should follow on the book list -- or at least some excerpt from the desert father's teachings. This book remains one of my all-time favorites!

38 of 42 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Amazing Spiritual Classic; translation errors November 2, 2010

By Jeremy D. Pike

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

The life and way of the pilgrim is a truly Orthodox Christian spiritual experience. My problem is not with the pilgrim, but this translation.

The book has adopted some Catholic undertones that I cannot ignore. For example, the first "o" in "Orthodox" is often in lower-case, which indicates a wide-range of subjective beliefs about what one could call correct Christianity. The author should have translated "orthodox Christians" as "Orthodox Christians", as the latter indicates believers in communion with the Eastern Orthodox Church.

Furthermore, when the pilgrim watches over a church over a summer and speaks with a young woman which a schismatic father saying "unorthodox prayers", he confronts her. He intructs her in the "Our Father" and the "Hail Mary". It should be noted, Orthodox Christians don't say the Hail Mary, but there is a variant of that Catholic prayer in the morning and evening prayers. However, it is not called the "Hail Mary", nor is it a particularly elevated prayer.

As the extention of this argument, the pilgrim refers a few times to his "rosary". Orthodox Christians do not use rosaries; I am not 100% sure, but he probably originally used the word "chokti", which is simply a prayer rope. Orthodox prayer ropes are not divided the same way and they are not used for the same purpose. As an Orthodox Christian holds a prayer rope, the Theotokos (Mary) will probably never be mentioned.

The best refutation of Catholicizing this story is the mention of the Jesus Prayer and the Philokalia. The RCC has not officially supported or theologized about the Jesus Prayer. The Philokalia has a number of Orthodox saints who are not even saints in the Roman Catholic Church!...

Catholic translators probably innocently made Western Christian translation errors, but it detracts from its Orthodox roots and should not go without mentioning. I would recommend an alternative version translated by those of the same religion as this anonymous Russian peasant, Eastern Orthodox Christianity.

Recommendation: The translation of Olga Savin with the forward by Fr. Thomas Hopko Read more ›